Coulthard showing he means business

JUST as he did last year, Kiwi driver Fabian Coulthard has thrown down a marker at Mount Panorama in the lead up to the much-anticipated Bathurst 1000.

Coulthard, sitting fifth in this year's V8 Supercars driver's championship, produced the fastest ever lap on the mountain in last year's qualifying.

This time he ended the day on top of the time sheets again, lowering the unofficial lap record to a stunning two minutes 05.4786 seconds.

That was after last year's winner, Chaz Mostert, showed he was ready to defend his title with a 2:06.3223 in the first practice session, the fastest lap ever recorded in the opening session on the mountain.

"I could tell by the first practice that it would be a pretty quick day," Coulthard said.

"I thought my lap record would get beaten today, and I'm glad it was by me"

Coulthard's Commodore was followed by the three Prodrive Racing Fords of Mark Winterbottom, David Reynolds and Mostert.